(1885 - March 1930)

Born in Plum Bayou, Arkansas in 1885, George W. Thomas grew up to become a pianist and recording artist as would his younger siblings Beulah 'Sippie' Wallace and Hersal Thomas. Already an accomplished musician when his family moved to Houston, Texas around 1900, George readily adopted the barrel-house styles of the region. Growing to become a popular composer and a one time partner of Clarence Williams, his original works include "Muscle Shoals Blues" and "New Orleans Hop Scop Blues". The later, published in 1916, is cited as the very first twelve-bar blues to feature a walking Boogie-woogie bass.

In February 1923 George Thomas would also become the first pianist to record a walking bass line.